City traders slam plan for bus hub

Jessica Benton
GEELONG traders have slammed plans for a bus hub amid the city’s busiest shopping strips.
The traders have rejected a proposal from State Govern-ment’s Department of Transport to build the facility on either Moorabool or Malop street, fearing damage to their businesses.
The Government announced $80 million for bus services in Geelong this week, including the development of the “interchange” facility in the central city area.
The interchange would be a drop-off and pick-up point linking services around the city with buses from the Bellarine Peninsula and Surf Coast.
The department’s Moorabool Street option is for a site between Malop and Little Malop streets. The Malop Street option targets an area between Moorabool Street and Westfield Geelong.
City of Greater Geelong surveyed traders, shoppers and public transport users for feedback on the options.
Traders in the option areas said a bus interchange would be a disaster for either location. Speakys surf shop owner Terry Lyons, a veteran city trader, wanted the buses to stay in Little Malop Street or shift to Yarra Street.
“I think the two options are misguided,” he said.
“What you have to do is keep the bus stops in the middle of the city but have them in a spot where they least disrupt services, traffic and trading.”
“I can’t see the point in putting buses out the front of shops – that’s what we tried to get away from in the beginning.”
Mr Lyons branded the survey a waste of time.
“I’ve given up on City surveys. I don’t see the point because they (council) never listen,” he said.
“The last survey we did was for the toilets out the front of our store. We and other traders said we didn’t want them but they were still built.”
Sires’ Daryl Biviano said he would move if the department put the interchange outside his Moorabool Street store.
“If they want buses back here, good luck to them,” he said.
“I know they have to be central but put the buses in between Market Square and Westfield – it’s not rocket science.”
Mr Biviano’s preferred option for the interchange was the Lt Malop Street mall.
The only other option was to purchase a site for a high-rise bus terminal between Lt Malop and Ryrie streets, he said.
Plunj’s Cailah Skinner backed Mr Bivian’s high-rise proposal.
“They need to go up, there’s no other option or space,” Mr Skinner said.
The Independent was unable to gain comment from the Department of Transport this week.
City of Greater Geelong major projects general manager Stephen Wright said the survey comprised 150 “face-to-face” interviews and a “comprehensive mail-out” to business operators and property owners in the central city area.
“It is expected that council will consider the survey results early in the new year,” he said.